Proverbs 14
1 Wise women [PRS] hold their families together [by the wise things that they do], but foolish women ruin their families by the foolish things that they do.
Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.
2 By [continually] behaving/acting righteously, [people show that they] greatly revere Yahweh; those who (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) [show that they] despise him.
He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 If [a man has] no oxen [to plow his field], he does not [need to put] grain [in their feedbox], but if [he has] oxen, they will enable [him to produce] an abundant crop.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.
A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understands.
7 Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 Those who have good sense are wise, so they know what they should do [and what they should not do]; foolish people do not know what is right to do, but because they think that they do, they are deceiving themselves.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.
10 If you are very sad or if you are joyful, only you know what you are experiencing; no one else [can] know what you are feeling.
The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy.
11 Houses built by wicked [people] will be destroyed, but houses built by good/righteous [people] will last for a long time.
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12 There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that [some] people [falsely] think are right, but (walking on those roads/continually doing those things) causes [those people] to die.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 [Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 Those who stubbornly continue to do what is wrong will get what they deserve, and those who continually do what is good will [also] get what they deserve.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 Foolish people believe everything [that people tell them]; those who have good sense think carefully about what will be the result of their actions.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going.
16 Wise people are careful and avoid [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).
A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.
17 Those who quickly become angry [IDM] do foolish things; [people] hate those who plan to do wicked things (OR, those who have good sense remain calm/patient).
He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Foolish people get what they deserve for doing foolish things; those with good sense are rewarded [MET] by being able to learn a lot.
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 [Some day] evil [people] will bow down in front of righteous [people to show that they respect them]; they [will humbly stand] at the gates of [the houses of] righteous [people and request their help].
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 [No one likes] poor [people]; even their friends/neighbors do not like them; rich [people] have many friends, but [only while the rich people still have money].
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends.
21 It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.
He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Those who plan to do things that are evil/wrong are walking on the wrong road; people faithfully love, respect and are loyal to those who plan to do what is good.
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 If you work hard, you will (accomplish something good/get a good income), but if all you do is to talk [and not work], you will remain poor.
In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.
24 One of the rewards [MET] of being wise is to become rich; the reward of acting foolishly is to become more foolish.
The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 By saying [in court] what is true, you [can] save the life [of the one who is being falsely accused]; if you tell lies, you are abandoning someone who needs your help [to defend him].
A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 Having an awesome respect for Yahweh is [like] [MET] [having] a fountain that gives life; it will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28 If a king rules over many people, many people will [be able to] honor him; if he has only a few people in his kingdom, he will have very little [HYP] power.
In the multitude of people is the king’s honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
30 Having a mind that is peaceful results in having a healthy body; having a mind that is [often] in turmoil is [like] [MET] cancer in [a person’s] bones.
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 Those who oppress poor people are insulting God, the one who made those poor people, but acting kindly toward them is respecting God.
He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honors him has mercy on the poor.
32 Wicked [people] ruin themselves by the evil things that they do, but righteous/good [people] are kept safe/protected even when they die (OR, because of their continually doing what is right).
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death.
33 Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.
Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the middle of fools is made known.
34 [When] the people of a nation [continually act] righteously, it causes that nation to be great; [continually doing what is] evil causes a nation to be disgraced.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 Kings are pleased with officials who do their work competently/skillfully, but they punish [MTY] those who [do their work in a manner that] causes the kings to be disgraced.
The king’s favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.
